GDT 10/9/23 Philadelphia Phillies (Wheeler) @ Atlanta Braves (Fried)

[zambonir]

I'm just sticking the same attitude I've had all season I think someone had called a game a "gut punch" about 70 times here over the last two years and they've only been right once (Game 4 of the World Series). Whether that bodes well or ill, I dunno.

[zambonir]

which is also what the Braves thought I guess

[bkox]

“I mean we thrive after we get punched in the face, man.”- Nick Castellanos #RedOctober pic.twitter.com/9LjiyLOBUG

— Underground Sports Philadelphia ( @UndergroundPHI ) October 10, 2023

[zambonir]

What they don't want to do is go back to Atlanta, obviously.

[LoneStarPhan]

An extremely disappointing loss tonight. It always hurts to blow a four run lead. Winning this game would have been so huge.

Seemed like the error by Turner that let the Braves score their first run gave the Braves new life.

Going into any 5 game series in playoffs with the first two on the road, you always hope to get a split in those two games and come home with the series tied. We now need to win 2 of the remaining 3 games with the first 2 at home. Same situation as last year. Maybe the Phillies do it again but maybe they don't. The Braves are clearly a talented team and have played better than the Phillies over the long regular season. The Phillies have a good chance to win those two games and move on. If they can't, then hats off to the Braves.

Momentum turns on a dime in baseball. Last year, the Phillies lost the second game behind Wheeler. They were shut out. But in the next two games, it didn't matter.

As for the moves made by Thomson, I disagreed with some of them, but had they worked out like they did last game, we would be hailing him for his managing. We cannot know what would have happened if he pulled Wheeler after six innings, or what would have happened if he used someone other than Hoffman when he did. Win and you look good. Lose and you are always second guessed.

[zambonir]

My prediction: Phils romp in Game 3. But hard to see them beating Strider twice. I'll take this pitching rematch in Game 5 though, even if going back to Georgia is not ideal.

[Aquapong]

I remember looking after Rojas k’d to end the 5th and the MLB app said we had an 86% chance of winning…

[LoneStarPhan]

In baseball, no game is ever safely won until it is.

The Phillies had 9 hits and 7 walks. The Braves had 4 hits and one walk. Those are numbers that should win most of the time. Just tonight, they didn't.

[Lucky_Beagle]

plus costly HBP

[Philsmania]

Predicting Nola 2.2IP 6H 6ER 2BB 3K 3HR on Wed.

Nola on the hill when the Phillies are desperate for a win. Gulp.

[Lucky_Beagle]

stott up bases loaded 3-0 count 2 outs top of 1st I was hoping for Walk.... Fried threw a couple of strikes when he needed to and got out of a 4 hit 1 run inning.

[LoneStarPhan]

Stott took a 3-0 fastball in that first inning with the bases loaded. Four previous hits in the first were off the fast ball. Looked like a pitch to hit. What if? No, I don't say he should swing 3-0 there. In fact, I would usually say you take that first strike. I also was hoping for a walk and another run and another batter to the plate.

But alas. The Braves won game 2 and nothing is going to change that. Getting the win in game 3 is the present objective.

[xogfog]

I hope the Phillies learned something. The Braves do struggle with velocity and both homers came on breaking balls.

[gmwannabe]

I'm going to jump on along here with LSP and bkox. That error by turner opened up the series for the braves. he took one game away with that great double play the first game and gave one back with that lazy attempt on the throw by Casty. the braves were ready to be buried. If I was a betting man, I'd put a lot of chips on the braves to win the next 3. fans or no fans. and with Nola pitching, I can see a short outing as his last as a Philly. maybe as bad a bkox has written. I can see the Phils sitting in the locker room after the game staring at each other....what happened? can't think of which play hurt the most. Luzinski tipping that fly ball off the top of his glove at the wall in left field against the dodgers or this one. devastating.
gm

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

And Nola doesn't have much velocity.

[Philsmania]

Looking back the morning after, there's plenty of blame to go around. Thomson possibly taking Wheeler out too soon. Turner's error. The Phillies leaving all those runners on base and, in the process, letting a really good Braves team hang around. Harper's baserunning gaffe. We'll need the homecrowd energy--and smarter, crisper baseball--on Wednesday and Thursday.

[zambonir]

Thomson possibly taking Wheeler out too soon

Too late, you mean.

Athletic had some good insight into Hoffman and Realmuto's approach to Riley. He was missing with his fastball, and slider is normally his best pitch. But that one wasn't good enough. And in hindsight missing with the fastball and walking him would have been better. Probably.

Phillies still probably would have beaten a lot of teams despite all the issues. And Nick probably ties the game with that fly ball 80% of the time too.

[Jazzhead]

We stole the first game from the Braves, and they stole the second game from us. Damn, we had such an opportunity there.

[el-pietro]

That fly out from Castellanos reminded me so much of the Realmutos fly out to Chaz McCormick in the World Series last year.
I cant decide how I feel about Harper getting thrown out. Was it worth the gamble to be that far from first. If the ball drops hes scoring and its at worst a tie game. It also took two incredible plays from Harris and Riley to get him. I didn't even notice that it was Riley making the throw in real time last night.

[zambonir]

Thomson said everyone is taught not to go past 2B without looking if there's only one out.